Blue Ground → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball Blue Ground (No.210), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Blue Ground
If you love Farrow & Ball Blue Ground but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Blue Ground (No.210) is a medium-dark blue with historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 35) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Blue Ground and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Morning Fog (SW 6255) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Morning Fog is close. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Blue Ground
Morning Fog is close.
| Blue Ground | Morning Fog | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 35 | 44 |
| Hex | #A9B9B9 | #B9C2C5 |
| Undertone | Historic Blue-Gray | Cool Blue-Gray |
| Family | Blue | Blue |
Undertone Comparison
Blue Ground has historic blue-gray undertones. A historic blue-gray named for the blue ground used in gilding. More blue than Pigeon, lighter than De Nimes. Refined and versatile.
Morning Fog has cool blue-gray undertones. A cool, mid-tone blue-gray. Named for the soft morning haze. More saturated than Silvermist, lighter than Foggy Day.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Blue Ground in Your Room
In bright rooms, the blue is soft and present. In dim rooms, a sophisticated cool gray. Under warm light, the blue calms.
Morning Fog in Your Room
The blue-gray is soft and atmospheric. In bright rooms, a definite blue. In dim rooms, a cool gray.
LRV and Brightness
Blue Ground has an LRV of 35, while Morning Fog has an LRV of 44. That means Morning Fog reflects more light. If you switch from Blue Ground to Morning Fog, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Blue Ground
Farrow & Ball recommends Blue Ground for: bedroom, living room, bathroom, hallway, dining room. With an LRV of 35, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Morning Fog is recommended for: bedroom, bathroom, office, living room, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Morning Fog in the same rooms you planned for Blue Ground.
Blue Ground in Other Brands
Looking for Blue Ground equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Blue Ground (No.210) is Morning Fog (SW 6255) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Morning Fog is close. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Blue Ground is a Farrow & Ball color with historic blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 35. Morning Fog is a Sherwin Williams color with cool blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 44. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.